Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Lok Sabha Tuesday passed a landmark bill to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the general category poor with most parties backing the proposed legislation, described by the government as "historic" and in the country's interest.

Opposition, including the Congress, dubbed the proposed law as a political gimmick that may not stand judicial scrutiny but came around to support it during voting, underlining the huge political import of the measure aimed at placating upper castes.

08 Jan 2019; DW: Indian conference organizers have distanced themselves from unorthodox claims made by some prominent academics. Among the claims: ancient Indians invented stem cell technology, and Einstein and Newton were misguided.

New Delhi, Jan 7; PTI:  The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to Reliance Communication Ltd (RCom) Chairman Anil Dhirubhai Ambani and others on a plea filed by Ericsson India Pvt Ltd for allegedly not clearing its dues of Rs 550 crore after selling its assets to Reliance Jio.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Vineet Sharan sought a response from Ambani and others in four weeks.

Appearing for RCom, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and MukulRohatgi urged the bench to accept Rs 118 crore towards the dues to establish its bonafide.

Islamabad, Jan 7 :  A top court in Pakistan on Monday indefinitely postponed hearing of a petition filed by jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif seeking suspension of his sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case

On December 24, 2018, Accountability Court II Judge Arshad Malik sentenced 69-year-old Sharif to seven years in prison along with a fine of Rs 1.5 billion and USD 25 million in the Al-Azizia corruption case, concluding a series of three court cases against the Sharif family in the high-profile Panama Papers scandal

Dhaka, Jan 7; PTI:  Sheikh Hasina was sworn in as Bangladesh's prime minister for a third consecutive term on Monday after her Awami League's landslide victory in the December 30 election.

President Md Abdul Hamid administered the oath of office to 71-year-old Hasina at the Bangabhaban. It is Hasina's fourth term in office.

The president then administered the oaths for the new ministers, ministers of state and deputy ministers who will form the Cabinet.

Hasina will lead a Cabinet of 24 ministers, 19 ministers of state and three state ministers.

Lucknow, Jan 7 (PTI) Ahead of a formal announcement of a pre-poll alliance, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati dialled Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav and extended her full support to him after reports emerged that he might be quizzed by the CBI in connection with the mining scam.

"Do not be shaken by such gimmicks," Mayawati told Akhilesh, while terming the reports as "political animosity" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Srinagar, Jan 8 (PTI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday to reinstate Alok Verma as CBI director, saying the apex court ruling had restored faith in independent institutions.

"Welcome SCs decision to reinstate #AlokVerma as CBI Dir. (It) reinstates belief in independent institutions of our democracy that are its pillars," Mufti said in a tweet.

New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) A report by the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan was tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday.

The bill is expected to be discussed in the lower house on Tuesday. The report was prepared by the Joint Parliamentary Committee by a majority vote as opposition members in the panel had objected to the provisions saying Indian citizenship cannot be granted on the basis of religion and it is against the Constitution.

Banda (UP), Jan 7 (PTI) Four cows and three calves have died apparently due to lack of fodder in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district, locals said Monday.

The incident happened in the district's Gureh village of Sadar area on Sunday.

About 150 cattle were kept in an enclosure by villagers of which seven died due to lack of fodder, Ram Kishore, husband of the village head said.

Sub Divisional Magistrate of Sadar, T Ansaria, said he has no information about cattle "deaths".

Itanagar, Jan 7 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday said the state government would provide a new designated land here for holding protests, in place of the current one that has been allotted to the ruling BJP for construction of its permanent office.

The Tennis Court inside the Indira Gandhi Park in the state capital is has been the designated area for staging protests and holding dharnas by organisations.